**Executive Summary**
This report is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 2672 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 16, 2025, regarding amendments to the Cooperative Societies Act. It addresses questions about legal gaps, database integration, and inclusivity in the cooperative sector under the National Cooperation Policy, 2025. The report confirms that the government is providing technical support for database integration as States/UTs become ready and outlines steps taken to promote inclusivity.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Legal and Regulatory Gaps:**
* The government has not identified specific legal and regulatory gaps across States/UTs that necessitate amendments to their respective Cooperative Societies Acts.
* **Database Integration:**
* Technical support is being provided to States/UTs as they become ready to integrate State-level Cooperative Databases with the National Cooperative Database (NCD).
* A standard API for States to fetch cooperative societies data from the NCD portal was developed, along with a Standard API Specification Document and database schema (shared on 27.05.2025).
* Push APIs, documents, and SOPs were shared with States on 22.09.2025 for live, event-driven data pushing from RCS applications to the NCD Portal.
* An advisory with checklists for RCS computerization and API integration was issued on 14.11.2025.
* Rajasthan has completed API integration with the NCD portal.
* States/UTs must develop reverse/pull APIs and complete RCS computerization for successful two-way integration.
* **Inclusivity in the Cooperative Sector:**
* The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) (Amendment) Act & Rules, 2023 have been notified to strengthen governance, enhance transparency, increase accountability, and reform the electoral process.
* Provisions have been made for two seats for women and one seat for SC or ST on the boards of Multi-State Co-operative societies.
* Provisions have been made to make the membership of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) more inclusive, giving representation to women and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes. 32 States/UTs have adopted Model Bye-laws.
* The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) operates dedicated schemes (Nandini Sahakar, Swayam Shakti Sahakar, Ayushman Sahakar, Yuva Sahakar) for concessional finance and start-up support.
* ₹1,355.61 crore was disbursed to women cooperatives, benefiting over 41 lakh women members during 2024-25. Cumulatively, NCDC has disbursed ₹7,781.97 crore for societies promoted by women as of 31.03.2025.
* Schemes for SC/ST cooperatives provide support for marketing, working capital, and infrastructure creation. In FY 2024-25, ₹0.18 crore was disbursed to SC cooperatives and ₹29.63 crore to ST cooperatives. As of 31.03.2025, cumulative disbursements are ₹323.52 crore for SC cooperatives and ₹5308.02 crore for ST cooperatives.
* NCDC supports weaker section cooperatives in fisheries, livestock, handloom, sericulture, and labor sectors.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact**
* States/UTs are impacted by the need to integrate State-level cooperative databases with the National Cooperative Database (NCD).
**Action Required**
* States/UTs need to ensure the development of reverse/pull APIs and complete RCS computerization.
**Impact**
* Multi-State Cooperative Societies are impacted by the amendments to the MSCS Act & Rules, 2023, particularly regarding governance, transparency, and electoral process.
Multi-State Co-operative societies are impacted by the provision for reservation of seats for women and SC/ST on their boards.
**Action Required**
* Multi-State Cooperative Societies must implement the changes stipulated in the MSCS (Amendment) Act & Rules, 2023 and provide reservation for women and SC/ST.
**Impact**
* Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are impacted to broaden membership for women and Scheduled Castes/Tribes.
**Action Required**
* PACS must implement more inclusive membership criteria and ensure representation for women and Scheduled Castes/Tribes.
**Impact**
* Women, youth, Scheduled Castes/Tribes, and other vulnerable sections benefit from schemes and initiatives by NCDC aimed at inclusivity in the cooperative sector.
**Action Required**
* Stakeholders need to utilize the schemes and support provided by NCDC.
Key Entities Referenced
National Cooperation Policy, 2025: A policy guiding amendments to State/UT Cooperative Societies Acts, aiming to achieve its objectives.
Cooperative Societies Act: State and UT Acts that are being amended to achieve objectives outlined under the National Cooperation Policy, 2025.
Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) (Amendment) Act & Rules, 2023: Act to strengthen governance, enhance transparency, increase accountability and reform electoral process in the Multi State Cooperative Societies by supplementing existing legislation and incorporating the provisions of Ninety-seventh Constitutional Amendment.
Ministry of Cooperation: The primary ministry responsible for addressing questions related to amendments to Cooperative Societies Acts.
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC): An entity that is taking multiple steps to enhance the participation of women, youth, Scheduled Castes/Tribes and other vulnerable sections in the cooperative sector.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COOPERATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2672
ANSWERED ON 16th DECEMBER, 2025
Amendments to Cooperative Societies Act
2672. Shri Devusinh Chauhan:
Shri Haribhai Patel:
Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has identified specific legal and regulatory gaps across States/UTs
that necessitate amendments to their respective Cooperative Societies Acts for achieving the
objectives outlined under the National Cooperation Policy, 2025;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any timeline has been set for achieving real-time integration of State-level cooperative
databases with the National Cooperative Database (NCD) and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps being taken to promote inclusivity in the cooperative sector, particularly regarding
the participation of women, youth, SC/ST members and weaker sections?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION
सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)
(a) No Sir
(b) Nil, in view of the (a) above.
(c) As and when the States/UTs are ready for integration of the State-level Cooperative Database
with National Cooperative Database (NCD), the necessary technical supports are being
provided to them.The Ministry of Cooperation developed a standard API for States to fetch cooperative
societies data from the NCD portal and shared the Standard API Specification Document
and database schema on 27.05.2025. Push APIs were subsequently developed for live,
event-driven data pushing from RCS applications to the NCD Portal, and all related
documents and SOPs were shared with State on 22.09.2025. An advisory with
comprehensive check lists for completion of RCS computerization and API integration was
also issued on 14.11.2025. Rajasthan has already completed API integration with NCD
portal. As per the integration plan, States/UTs must ensure development of reverse/pull
API and complete RCS computerization for successful two-way integration and
synchronization of cooperative data.
(d) The Following steps have been taken to ensure greater participation of women, youth,
Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and vulnerable sections in the Cooperative sector-
i. The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) (Amendment) Act & Rules, 2023 have
been notified on 03.08.2023 and 04.08.2023, respectively to strengthen governance,
enhance transparency, increase accountability and reform electoral process, etc.in the Multi
State Cooperative Societies by supplementing existing legislation and incorporating the
provisions of Ninety-seventh Constitutional Amendment.
To increase the representation of Women and Scheduled Castes/Tribes in the boards of
Multi-State Co-operative societies, provision for reservation of two seats for women and
one seat for SC or ST in the Board of multi-State cooperative societies have been made.
ii. Provisions have also been made to make the membership of Primary Agricultural Credit
Societies (PACS) more inclusive and broad-based, giving adequate representation to
women and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes. So far, 32 States/ UTs have adopted Model
Bye-laws or their existing bye-laws are in line with Model Bye-laws.iii. National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is taking multiple steps to
enhance the participation of women, youth, Scheduled Castes/Tribes and other vulnerable
sections in the cooperative sector, which are detailed as under:
a) NCDC operates dedicated schemes such as Nandini Sahakar, Swayam Shakti Sahakar,
Ayushman Sahakar and Yuva Sahakar, which provide concessional finance, interest
subvention and start-up support to women-led, youth-led, SC/ST and innovative
cooperatives. The details are as under
b) During 2024-25, assistance of ₹1,355.61 crore was disbursed to women cooperatives
benefiting over 41 lakh women members. Cumulatively as on 31.03.2025, NCDC has
disbursed financial assistance of ₹7,781.97 crore for the development of cooperative
societies exclusively promoted by women.
c) Schemes for SC/ST cooperatives provide support for marketing, working capital and
infrastructure creation, during FY 2024-25, an amount of ₹0.18 crore was disbursed to
SC cooperatives and ₹29.63 crore to ST cooperatives. As on 31.03.2025, cumulative
disbursements of ₹323.52 crore for SC cooperatives and ₹5308.02 crore for ST
cooperatives.
Further, NCDC supports weaker section cooperatives in fisheries, livestock, handloom, sericulture
and labour sectors, benefiting lakhs of members which includes SC, ST, Women members. NCDC
has introduced sector-specific schemes and focused products to align with the evolving needs of
the cooperative sector, with special emphasis on women empowerment, digitization of
cooperatives, and rural healthcare.
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